Shabnim Ismail Announces Retirement from International Cricket

South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail announced her retirement from International Cricket at the age of 34. Ismail has taken 317 wickets in 241 games across all three formats of the game. She said she had made the difficult decision to move on to the next chapter of her life. She now joins Lizelle Lee and Dane van Niekerk in retiring from the South Africa squad in the last 12 months.

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Shabnim Ismail Announces Retirement

Ismail is set to play for Welsh Fire in The Hundred this summer. She said she is looking forward to continuing to perform at the highest level over the next few years. The right-armer Ismail is one of the fastest in the women's game. She has taken three wickets in one Test, 191 scalps in 127 one-day internationals, and 123 victims in 113 T20s.

"I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have had," she said. "As any athlete knows, training and competing at your best requires much sacrifice and dedication. I now find myself wanting to spend more time with my family, particularly my siblings, and parents."

"I have loved being able to compete at the highest level and I am so proud of being able to be part of a wonderful group of players who have led the way for women in cricket. The memories I have will stay with me forever."

"As I step into this new stage of my life, I am excited to explore new opportunities and spend more time with those I love. However, cricket will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to be a proud ambassador for the sport in South Africa."